I haven't prayed for the past 2 years. I used to pray everyday for my friends safety and he died anyway. Everybody kept saying it was just a part of God's plan. So if God has a plan then what good does it do to pray for something that's not part of his plan? and have I lost my faith for believing this?
2006-11-12 05:28:22 · 17 answers · asked by Abu 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I feel for you, I really do. I've gone through the same things. The same thing happened to me when my dad died...my doubt and hatred of God lasted for twelve years. Now I understand that God DID answer my prayers. I asked for my dad to be healed...he was. He's in heaven now, and in no pain.
Maybe the only way your friend could be safe was to not be a part of this world any more. Or maybe there's more to it than you've been able to see.
Ask God for help in understanding it. He'll help you. He helped me.
2006-11-12 06:27:48 · answer #1 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry. Most people have a problem with this. Sorry to hear about your friend. The problem is knowing what God's plan is. Yes you prayed for your friend's safety, that's only natural. God would have heard your prayers and been saddened by his death, we are made in his image, after all.
God has made a provision for everyone to have the chance to live again; you must be familiar with the story of Lazarus, it's read out at most funerals. Try reading the whole episode and ask yourlself why Jesus brought him back to life. Yes, it was a miracle, but what did he want to demonstrate. Afterwards he said (and I paraphrase) ' he that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life'. He was talking about a future when he, as 'the resurrection and the life' would bring millions back to life. He was demonstrating, as he did with all the other miracles, that he had the authority and power from God to do these things.
One thing few people think about is that Lazarus would go on to die in the future (otherwise he would still be here to tell the tale himself). So why did Jesus resurrect him? Did you know that Lazarus wasn't the only example of Jesus bringing people back from the dead? This would seem to prove that it was to demonstrate that it was possible for dead people to come back, not as spirits or angels, but as living, breathing humans on earth.
I know that your friend has a genuine hope for the resurrection. That he, and millions of others can live again on a 'new earth' as the bible describes it.
I don't think you have lost your faith, just questioned it. Maybe the source of your faith was misguided, or you didn't receive the comfort you sought from the bible or your church. Seek out the truth - it's a commandment. Find someone who can answer your questions from the bible, not just their opinion. Carry on praying; God is listening, I can assure you.
2006-11-12 14:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Did you have faith in God the Father, Word & Holy Spirit?
If so, others also have gone through this. There are books out there. Ask at a Christian Supply store. Or do a web search.
Without faith it is impossible to please God, for those who seek Him must believe that God Is, and is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. That is the God of the Holy Bible. God will give you answers, if you just pray specifically without doubting. You need to listen though.
To start out, though, you need to repent for doubting God's love for you and for who God Is. Claim biblical promises like, "God will never leave or forsake me. He hears my prayers when I abide in His Love & His Word. He hears me because I forgive others because He forgave me my sins & washed them away with His own blood.".
Also, build your most Holy Faith by praying in the Spirit honestly from your heart.
This is Christian encouragement.
Also to add. God has a plan. But innocent people will die because of their own sin, others sin or environmentl sin. Sin is just doing what is against God's will. You need to trust God for your friends safety today. God sees the whole picture. Did you ever get assurance of your friends salvation in your heart? If you did get that assurance your friend is safely in heaven with the Lord.
Remember, all things work for the Good for those who trust in the LORD.
2006-11-12 13:39:28 · answer #3 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Faith is your own. The age old questions, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" really doesn't have an adequate answer. It is faith that allows an individual to believe that all is as it should be. If God exists, then death is just another adventure. By asking us about your faith, you are reinforcing both that you desire to be faithful but also that you are without it. Faith is a choice to let go and celebrate life. Choose
2006-11-12 13:35:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
YOU ARE GETTING SMARTIER!!! Congratulations you just discovered the first step to becoming an athiest! Prayer is futile! if god knows all then praying is pointless example, "Dear god, I know your busy and stuff but your doing it all wrong you havent helped me, so stop what your doing and get me a (woman, money, power, job, ect. ect.)" people use prayer as a form of begging, and when nothing happens they say well it wasnt gods will. I say why pray if you know god has a plan. The fact is you are all alone in this world, its a cold world, and nobody is gonna help you so Buck up! Kick some Butt on your way to the top, Stop messing around you dont have much time left. you now have a decisive advantage over your enemys, Intelligence, so use it and be glad you can.
2006-11-12 13:37:37 · answer #5 · answered by silentbob_151 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋
bad things happen to good people.
good things happen to bad people.
regardless of your religion, both of these things happen.
If one believes in a single omnipotent being who controls all things, then these things stand out as a particular paradox: either he/she/it had an unfathomable reason, is sometimes cruel, or acts unjustly.
One either accepts a sinlge answer and clings to it fiercely and perhaps close-mindedly; or one asks questions. When one runs out of questions and still has no satisfaction (which is not the same thing as not coming up with an answer), it is time to question the assumptions and foundations that the failed questions were based upon.
2006-11-12 13:35:34 · answer #6 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know if you have lost your faith, but if you have, why not try to get it back? Nothing is stopping you from praying right now. It is okay to pray for yourself, you can pray that you can get your strong faith back.
2006-11-12 13:33:13 · answer #7 · answered by Adam 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
do not be discouraged.... we do not know for sure if it was God's plan...the bible says that He wishes for us to be safe from danger....something else must have gone wrong...there could have been other things going on that you do not know about...do not give up...in general, in God's timing , not ours, prayers for things that are good are granted, if they are best for us...if you give up , then nothing will go right...i have prayed for years for things and they seem to get worse.. it is the enemy satan coming against me....i have to be persistent, and keep trying and hoping for the best. I have seem enough of what God does, to know he is my only hope for difficult things.
2006-11-12 13:35:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
not yet but you are losing it! listen to me you can always change God's mind about His plan
2006-11-12 15:00:28 · answer #9 · answered by My Life is in Black and White 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because faith is so fragile, if put to the test, a person often to come reject all that they once held true. The reason, of course, is that faith is not based on facts and reality but blind adherence to fictional beings and books.
Anyway, you won't get an answers to your prayer because quite frankly, there is no God.
2006-11-12 13:35:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋